Shooting Space Shuttle launches

A remote camera photograph as the space shuttle Atlantis lifts off for the STS-117 international space station mission at Kennedy Space Center Friday, June 8, 2007.

With only two Space Shuttle missions left, time is running out to see a launch. I’ve been fortunate enough to witness and record several launches for the Houston Chronicle from locations as close as three miles to 14 miles from the launch pad. It is an incredible sight.

For a shuttle launch, I use about eight still cameras and up to nine video cameras. I’ll have a future post with a more detail on the cameras and other associated equipment used for recording the shuttle launches.

If you have the chance to see one of the remaining launches I highly recommend it.

James Nielsen : Chronicle

A photograph from the roof of the 525 foot tall VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) as the space shuttle Endeavour lifts off launch pad 39A for the STS-118 international space station mission, Aug. 8, 2007, at Kennedy Space Center.

James Nielsen : Chronicle

The space shuttle Endeavour’s exhaust trail hangs in the sky near NASA’s VAB building after the shuttle Endeavour lifted off for the STS-118 international space station mission , Aug. 8, 2007, at Kennedy Space Center.

James Nielsen : Chronicle

A remote camera photograph as space shuttle Discovery lifts off for the STS-120 international space station mission, Oct. 23, 2007, at Kennedy Space Center.

James Nielsen : Chronicle

A photograph from the roof of the 525 foot tall VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) The space shuttle Discovery lifts off for the STS-120 international space station mission, Oct. 23, 2007, at Kennedy Space Center.

James Nielsen : Chronicle

A remote camera photograph as space shuttle Discovery lifts off for the STS-120 international space station mission, Oct. 23, 2007, at Kennedy Space Center.

James Nielsen : Chronicle

A photograph from the roof of the 525 foot tall VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) as space shuttle Discovery lifts off of launch pad 39A for the STS-124 international space station mission, May 31, 2008, at Kennedy Space Center.

James Nielsen : Chronicle

A photograph from the roof of the 525 foot tall VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) Space shuttle Discovery lifts off of launch pad 39A for the STS-124 international space station mission, May 31, 2008, at Kennedy Space Center.

James Nielsen : Chronicle

A photograph from the roof of the 525 foot tall VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) Space shuttle Endeavour lifts off launch pad 39A for the STS-126 international space station mission, Nov. 14, 2008, at Kennedy Space Center.

A photograph from the roof of the 525 foot tall VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) as space shuttle Endeavour lifts off launch pad 39A for the STS-126 international space station mission, Nov. 14, 2008, at Kennedy Space Center.